protocol was our Word of the Day on 11/22/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of protocol in a Sentence

Typically, those who make pronouncements like this assume (without saying so) that the tongues making up the multitude will belong to persons who are committed to the protocols of rational inquiry; frivolous persons, persons who exploit those protocols or play with them to gain political ends, are not imagined. —Stanley Fish, Harper's, December 2005

Purcell even flouted the timeless protocol of pretending to admire the work of his fellow editors. —Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003

Today, thanks to the civil-rights movement, white guilt is propriety—an utterly invisible code that defines decency in our culture with thousands of little protocols we no longer even think about. —Shelby Steele, Harper's, November 2002

The soldier's actions constitute a breach of military protocol.

They did not follow the proper diplomatic protocols.

What is the proper protocol for declining a job offer?

the Geneva Protocol of 1925

Recent Examples of protocol from the Web

The site is a patient-to-patient registry where patients and/or their caregivers can search for others with their same diagnosis, or who have followed treatment protocols being recommended to them.

Although Messenger Kids seemingly follows proper protocols — and there are certainly good uses for it, such as a child being able to chat with family members — many kids already have access to cellphones that can accomplish those connection needs.

The White House is certainly equipped for secure calling, and hopefully Trump followed protocols such that his late-night gabfests with Kim Jong Un happen on a secure line and can focus on friendship and fun.

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'protocol.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

protocol and Politics

In Late Greek, the word prōtokollon referred to the first sheet of a papyrus roll bearing the date of its manufacture. In some instances, it consisted of a flyleaf that was glued to the outside of a manuscript's case and provided a description of its contents. Coming from the Greek prefix prōto- ("first") and the noun kolla ("glue"), prōtokollon gave us our word protocol. In its earliest uses in the 15th century, the word referred to a prologue or preface and also to a record of a document or transaction. In the late 19th century, it began to be used in reference to the etiquette observed by the Head of State of France in ceremonies and relations with other dignitaries. This sense has since extended in meaning to cover any code of proper conduct.

Origin and Etymology of protocol

Middle French prothocole, from Medieval Latin protocollum, from Late Greek prōtokollon first sheet of a papyrus roll bearing date of manufacture, from Greek prōt- prot- + kollan to glue together, from kolla glue; perhaps akin to Middle Dutch helen to glue